PRF (Platelet Rich Fibrin) in Houston
Made from your own blood to stimulate collagen under the eyes, across the face, and at the scalp.
- Sessions from $500
- 250+ five star reviews
- Nurse practitioner led, Galleria area
PRF, or platelet rich fibrin, is a treatment made from a small sample of your own blood that concentrates your platelets and growth factors and uses them to stimulate collagen and tissue repair. At Derma Theory in Houston, we use PRF three ways: to refresh the delicate skin under the eyes, to treat the whole face through The PRF Facial, and to support thinning hair. Because it comes from your own blood, there is no synthetic material involved, which is what draws many patients to it.
This is often the right starting point for someone who wants a natural approach and would rather work with their own biology than add a manufactured product. PRF sits within the regenerative side of our Houston practice, alongside EZ Gel, microneedling with PRP, and our Regen 360 plans.
What Is PRF?
Platelet rich fibrin is a concentrated form of your own blood used to stimulate healing in the skin and scalp. We draw a small amount of your blood and spin it in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets, growth factors, and white blood cells into a soft fibrin matrix. That fibrin acts as a scaffold that holds the growth factors in place and releases them slowly once the PRF is placed.
A 2016 study in Clinical Oral Investigations (Kobayashi and colleagues) measured this directly and found that PRF releases growth factors in a steady, continual way across roughly a 10 day window, rather than in a single early burst. That slow release is the reason PRF results build gradually over the weeks after treatment.
Unlike some platelet preparations, PRF is made with no added anticoagulant, so the fibrin is allowed to form naturally and is placed while it is still active.
PRF vs PRP: What Is the Difference?
PRP (platelet rich plasma) and PRF both start with your own blood, and Derma Theory offers both, so it is a fair question to ask which one you are getting.
The difference is in how the blood is processed and how the growth factors are delivered. PRP is spun at a higher speed and usually prepared with an anticoagulant, which keeps it liquid and releases its growth factors quickly. PRF is spun more gently and without anticoagulant, so it forms a soft fibrin scaffold that holds onto the growth factors and releases them over a longer period. The same 2016 Clinical Oral Investigations research found PRP delivered more growth factors in the first hour, while PRF delivered more across the full 10 days.
In plain terms, PRP tends to work faster and fade sooner, and PRF tends to work more gradually and last a little longer. You do not have to choose between them. We use both PRF and PRP during every appointment, and both are included in the treatment price.
PRF, EZ Gel, and Dermal Filler Compared
Patients researching PRF almost always look at EZ Gel and traditional filler at the same time. Here is how the three compare.
| EZ Gel | PRF (platelet rich fibrin) | Hyaluronic acid dermal filler | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source material | Your own blood, processed into a gel through a heating and cooling process | Your own blood, used in its liquid form | Synthetic hyaluronic acid, manufactured in a lab |
| How it works | Adds gentle structural support while growth factors release over time to stimulate your own collagen | Growth factors release gradually to stimulate collagen and tissue repair | Adds volume by physically filling space and binding water |
| Onset | Gradual, building over the weeks after treatment | Gradual, building over the weeks after treatment | Immediate |
| Duration | Commonly several months. A series of sessions is often recommended | Builds over months. Maintenance sessions are commonly recommended | Commonly 6 to 18 months, depending on product and area |
| Areas treated | Under eyes, cheeks, temples, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, neck, hands | Under eyes, scalp and hairline, overall skin quality | Lips, cheeks, chin, jawline, nasolabial folds, under eyes |
| Downtime | No to minimal. Some swelling or bruising possible for three to five days | No to minimal. Some swelling or bruising possible for 24 to 48 hours | No to minimal. Some swelling or bruising possible for 24 to 48 hours |
| Price at Derma Theory | $800 for one area, $400 per additional area, $2,200 for three sessions on one area | $500 per session, $1,300 for three | From $500 for a mini lip treatment, most areas from $750 |
The PRF column above reflects a standard PRF session for the under eyes or the scalp. The PRF Facial, which treats the whole face in one appointment, is priced separately and covered below.
EZ Gel is PRF taken one step further. The same platelet rich fibrin goes through a controlled heating and cooling process that turns it into a gel, which is what lets it add gentle structure rather than only working on skin quality. That is why it is sometimes called a natural filler. You can read more on our EZ Gel in Houston page.
PRF Under the Eyes in Houston
The under-eye area is the most common reason patients come to us for PRF in Houston. Thin skin, shadowing, and early hollowing tend to show up here first, and it is a difficult area to treat well.
PRF placed under the eyes works by stimulating collagen and improving the quality of the skin itself, rather than adding volume the way filler does. Because the skin under the eye is so thin, a regenerative approach is a thoughtful option here, since it works with the tissue rather than sitting on top of it.
Honest expectations matter with this treatment. A 2025 systematic review in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (Sollitto and colleagues) examined the evidence for PRP and PRF around the eyes and found that PRF shows promise for skin texture and fine lines, while noting that results build gradually and can fade over several months. That is why we typically recommend a short series rather than a single session, and why maintenance is part of the plan.
This is usually the right treatment for someone who is seeing early thinning, crepey skin, or shadowing and dark circles under the eyes, who wants a natural approach, and who understands the result develops over weeks rather than appearing overnight. It is not a substitute for surgery if there is significant puffiness from fat or loose skin, and we will tell you honestly in your consultation if that is the case.
We apply a numbing cream before injecting the under eye area, so the treatment is comfortable in a part of the face most patients are protective of. For some patients we pair under-eye PRF with microneedling with PRP to treat the surrounding skin at the same time.
The PRF Facial in Houston
The PRF Facial treats the whole face in one appointment, including the under eye area, with liquid PRF placed in facial support areas, throughout the skin, and under the eyes. It is $1,000 for a single session or $2,700 for a series of three sessions spaced four weeks apart.
Full details are on our PRF Facial in Houston page.
PRF for Hair Restoration in Houston
PRF is also used to support thinning hair. The same growth factors that stimulate skin can help create a healthier environment at the follicle.
When PRF is injected into the scalp, it delivers concentrated growth factors to areas where hair has started to thin. The goal is to strengthen the follicles that are still active and improve the condition of the scalp, which can support fuller looking hair over a series of sessions. It tends to be most useful for early to moderate thinning rather than areas that are fully bald, where the follicles are no longer active.
Like under-eye PRF, hair restoration works gradually. Results build over a series of treatments, and ongoing maintenance is usually part of keeping them. We will set clear expectations about what PRF can and cannot do for your specific pattern of thinning at your consultation in Houston.
How PRF Works: What to Expect at Your Appointment
The PRF process is straightforward and takes place in our Houston clinic in a single visit.
- Draw. We draw a small amount of your blood, similar to a routine blood test.
- Spin. The sample goes into a centrifuge, which separates and concentrates the platelets and growth factors into the fibrin. This takes several minutes.
- Prepare. For under-eye, full face, and scalp treatments, the PRF is prepared in its injectable liquid form.
- Treat. We place the PRF in the target area with fine injections. Numbing cream is applied before treating the under eye area.
Most appointments take generally under an hour from draw to finish. There is no to minimal downtime. Some patients have mild swelling, redness, or bruising at the injection sites for 24 to 48 hours, which settles on its own. Because PRF works by stimulating your own collagen, the visible change builds over the following weeks rather than appearing the same day.
Who Is a Good Candidate for PRF?
PRF suits many healthy adults who want a natural, regenerative approach and who have realistic expectations about a result that builds over time.
PRF may be a good fit if you:
* Want to work with your own biology rather than a synthetic product
* Are seeing early under-eye thinning, shadowing, or crepey skin
* Want to improve overall skin quality, texture, and radiance across the whole face
* Have early to moderate hair thinning
* Prefer a gradual, natural looking change
PRF may not be appropriate if you:
* Have a bleeding or platelet disorder, or take blood thinners
* Have an active infection or skin condition in the treatment area
* Are pregnant or breastfeeding
* Have certain chronic health conditions
This is not a complete list. Because PRF uses your own blood, your health history matters, and a consultation with a qualified injector is the right way to confirm whether it is safe and suitable for you.
Why Derma Theory
PRF is an autologous treatment, which means it is made from your own blood and placed by hand in delicate areas like the under-eye. Who performs it matters.
At Derma Theory, your PRF treatment is performed by our nurse injector, in a practice founded and led by Victoria Derdari, APRN, FNP-C, who personally trains other injectors through Derma Theory Aesthetics Academy. Victoria is an advanced practice registered nurse and a board certified family nurse practitioner, and you can verify her license directly with the Texas Board of Nursing. Her teaching background is a useful signal for a treatment like this, because the injectors who teach a technique tend to be the ones who have performed it most. More than 250 patients have left us a five star review.
Our approach starts with your whole face and your goals, not a single product. Many patients leave a consultation with a different plan than the one they came in asking for, and that is the point. If PRF is right for you, we will say so. If something else fits better, we will tell you that too.
PRF Pricing in Houston
Every session uses both PRF and PRP in liquid form, and both are included in the price.
* Single session: $500
* Series of three sessions: $1,300
The PRF Facial, which treats the whole face including the under eye area in one appointment, is priced separately.
* The PRF Facial, single session: $1,000
* The PRF Facial, series of three: $2,700
Because PRF results build over a series and are maintained over time, most patients find a three session series is the better value for a first course of treatment. We will recommend the right number of sessions for your goals at your consultation.
PRF Frequently Asked Questions
Is PRF the same as PRP?
No. Both come from your own blood, but PRF is spun without anticoagulant and forms a fibrin scaffold that releases growth factors slowly, while PRP stays liquid and releases them quickly. PRF is designed to work more gradually and last a little longer. We use both during every appointment, and both are included in the treatment price.
What is The PRF Facial?
The PRF Facial treats the whole face in one appointment. It combines strategic placement in selected facial support areas, micro injections throughout the skin, and dedicated under eye injections. It is designed to improve skin quality, fine lines, texture, elasticity, radiance, and the appearance of the under eye area. It is $1,000 for a single session or $2,700 for a series of three.
Does PRF hurt?
Most patients tolerate it well. We apply a numbing cream before treating the under eye area, and the injections are done with fine needles. You may feel brief pressure or stinging at the injection sites.
How many PRF sessions will I need?
Most patients start with a series of three sessions, spaced about three to four weeks apart, because PRF builds on itself. We confirm the right number for your goals at your consultation.
How long does PRF last?
Results build over months and then are maintained over time. Published evidence around the eyes suggests improvements can fade over several months, so periodic maintenance sessions are commonly recommended.
When will I see results from PRF?
Because PRF works by stimulating your own collagen, the change is gradual. Most patients begin to notice a difference over the weeks following treatment rather than the same day.
Is PRF safe?
PRF uses only your own blood, so there is no risk of an allergic reaction to a foreign filler. As with any injection, temporary swelling, redness, or bruising can occur. Your health history is reviewed first to confirm you are a suitable candidate.
Can PRF get rid of my dark circles?
PRF can improve the quality and texture of the thin skin under the eyes, which may soften shadowing for some patients. It does not work the same way for everyone, and it is not a guaranteed fix for every cause of dark circles. A consultation is the right way to know what to expect for your eyes.
Is there any downtime after PRF?
There is no to minimal downtime. Some patients have mild swelling or bruising at the injection sites for 24 to 48 hours, and most return to normal activities right away.
Can PRF be used on the whole face?
Yes. That is what The PRF Facial is built for. Not many practices offer platelet based injections across the entire face including the under eye area, and it is a treatment we wanted to make available.
Can I combine PRF with other treatments?
Yes. PRF is often combined with microneedling, and it is one of the treatments included in our Regen 360 plans. We will build a plan that fits your goals.
How is PRF different from filler?
Traditional filler is a synthetic gel that adds volume immediately where it is placed. PRF is made from your own blood and works gradually by stimulating your own collagen. Many patients use both, in different areas, for different reasons.
Book a PRF Consultation in Houston
PRF is one of the most natural ways to treat under-eye skin, overall skin quality, and thinning hair, because it works with your own biology rather than adding anything synthetic. If you are considering PRF in Houston, the best next step is a consultation, so we can look at your skin, your goals, and whether PRF or another regenerative option fits best.
Call (713) 887-5988. If you have questions before booking, we are happy to answer them.
